Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DOOR MOUNTABLE CAMERA SURVEILLANCE DEVICE AND METHOD
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] The present application for patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application No. 61/348,664 entitled "Door Mountable Dual Camera Security
Apparatus" filed
May 26, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated
by reference
herein.
FIELD
[0002] Generally, the present application pertains to a security surveillance
device. More
particularly, various embodiments pertain to the surveillance of an interior
and/or an exterior
area of doorways/entryways.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In the field of security surveillance, video camera surveillance of
doorways/entryways is commonplace. Conventional doorway surveillance systems
typically
comprise individual cameras that are mounted to a fixed support, such as a
wall, to monitor and
video record a specific area, for example, the exterior of a doorway. If the
other side of the
doorway is to be recorded, a separate camera is typically mounted on that side
of the doorway as
well. In most cases the video cameras are mounted at a height above the frame
of the doorway at
an angle looking down. In some cases the video cameras may also be mounted at
some
considerable distance from the doorway.
[0004] Such conventional doorway surveillance systems have significant
limitations. Since
the video cameras are permanently mounted to a fixed support, such as a wall
or ceiling, they
typically will each only record a narrow viewing area, for example, the
exterior or interior
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entrance of the doorway. This requires separate cameras to be mounted at some
expense for each
narrow view of interest. Moreover, if the video cameras are mounted high and
angled down, then
image acquisition of the face of a person walking in and out of the doorway
may be
compromised.
[0005] It is an object of the surveillance devices disclosed herein to provide
for video
recording of the interior and/or exterior of a doorway. It is a further object
of the surveillance
devices disclosed herein to allow two video cameras to record a wider,
panoramic viewing angle
than cameras affixed to a wall or doorframe conventionally used for doorway
surveillance. It is
an additional object of the surveillance devices disclosed herein to
accurately and clearly capture
the facial images of people entering and exiting through a doorway. It is an
additional object of
the surveillance devices disclosed herein to be relatively compact, easy to
install, and attach to
various types of doors without major modifications.
SUMMARY
[0006] A surveillance device is disclosed, comprising: a first video camera;
and a housing
defining a cavity that contains, at least partially, the first video camera,
the housing having a first
camera opening and adapted to couple to a first side of a door, wherein the
first video camera
captures images through the first camera opening whether the door is in a
stationary position or
in motion. In one embodiment, the housing of the surveillance device further
comprises a first
end and a second end, the second end located opposite to the first end, the
first end having a first
end bracket adapted to couple the first end of the housing to a first
perimeter portion of the door,
and the second end having a second end bracket adapted to couple the second
end of the housing
to a second perimeter portion of the door. In another embodiment, the housing
of the surveillance
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device comprises a first end and a second end, the second end located opposite
to the first end,
and wherein at least one of the first end and the second end is a telescoping
end.
[0007] In another embodiment, the surveillance device further comprises a
processor coupled
to the first video camera and adapted to process video data including the
images acquired by the
first video camera; and a communications interface coupled to the processor
and adapted to
transmit the video data including the images to an external storage device. In
yet another
embodiment, the surveillance device further comprises a processor coupled to
the first video
camera and adapted to process video data including the images acquired by the
first video
camera; and a video data storage apparatus coupled to the processor and
adapted to store the
video data including the images on at least one memory circuit housed within
the storage
apparatus, wherein the video data storage apparatus is removably coupled to
the surveillance
device.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, the housing of the surveillance device is
coupled to the
first side of the door such that the first video camera is positioned at a
height between four (4)
feet six (6) inches and six (6) feet six (6) inches to capture facial images
of humans approaching
the first side of the door. In another embodiment, the surveillance device
further comprises a
second video camera contained, at least partially, within the cavity of the
housing and adapted to
capture additional images through a second camera opening in the housing, the
second video
camera adapted to capture the additional images whether the door is in the
stationary position or
in motion. The first video camera may be positioned adjacent to the second
video camera in
order to reduce the thickness of the housing. Moreover, the images captured by
the first video
camera may be located in a first area on the first side of the door, and the
additional images
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captured by the second video camera may be located in a second area on a
second side of the
door, the second side of the door being an opposite side of the first side of
the door.
[0009] In yet another embodiment, the door to which the surveillance device
attaches to may
be substantially transparent. In another embodiment, the first video camera is
adapted to capture
the images within a viewing angle a1 located in a first area on the first side
of the door when the
door is in a stationary position, and the first video camera is adapted to
capture the images
located within a viewing angle [i1 when the door is in motion, wherein 01 is
greater than a1. In
yet another embodiment, the viewing angle (31 includes images located in the
first area on the
first side of the door and images located in a second area on a second side of
the door, the second
side of the door being an opposite side of the first side of the door. In yet
another embodiment,
the surveillance device may further comprise a second video camera contained,
at least partially,
within the cavity of the housing and adapted to capture images while the door
is in the stationary
position and in motion, the second video camera adapted to capture images
located in the second
area on the second side of the door within a viewing angle a2 when the door is
in a stationary
position, the second video camera adapted to capture images located within a
viewing angle 02
when the door is in motion, the angle P2 being greater than the angle a2,
wherein the viewing
angle 02 includes images located in the first area on the first side of the
door and images located
in the second area on the second side of the door.
[0010] In another embodiment, a surveillance device is disclosed, comprising:
a first video
camera adapted to capture a first video data of images located in a first area
associated with an
interior side of a door; a second video camera adapted to capture a second
video data of images
located in a second area associated with an exterior side of the door; a first
housing defining a
first cavity that contains, at least partially, the first video camera, the
first housing adapted to
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couple to the interior side of the door; a second housing defining a second
cavity that contains, at
least partially, the second video camera, the second housing adapted to couple
to the exterior side
of the door; and a communications line communicatively coupling the first
video camera to the
second video camera. In one embodiment, the first video camera and the second
video camera
are respectively positioned on the interior side and exterior side of the door
at a height above
ground to capture facial images of humans approaching the door. In yet another
embodiment, the
door is substantially opaque.
[0011] In another embodiment, a surveillance device is disclosed, comprising:
a first video
camera adapted to record a first video data of a first doorway region
associated with a first side
of a substantially transparent door; a second video camera adapted to record a
second video data
of a second doorway region associated with a second side of the door, the
second side of the door
opposite the first side of the door; and a casing defining a cavity that
contains, at least partially,
the first video camera and the second video camera, the casing having a first
camera opening
through which the first video camera records the first video data and a second
camera opening
through which the second video camera records the second video data, the
casing adapted to
couple to the first side of the door. In another embodiment, the first camera
opening faces away
from the first side of the door, and the second camera opening faces toward
the first side of the
door. In another embodiment, the casing comprises: a first end and a second
end, the second end
located opposite to the first end, the first end having a first end bracket
adapted to couple the first
end of the casing to a first perimeter portion of the door, and the second end
having a second end
bracket adapted to couple the second end of the casing to a second perimeter
portion of the door.
In yet another embodiment, the first video camera is adapted to record the
first video data within
a viewing angle al when the door is in a stationary position, and further
adapted to record the
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first video data within a viewing angle Pi when the door is in motion, wherein
R- is greater than
al.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a surveillance device attached to
a door.
[0013] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate front and rear perspective views of a
surveillance device.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a view of a first end of a surveillance device.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of a front surface of a surveillance device.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the top side of a portion
of a surveillance
device that houses a first camera a second camera.
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an end of the surveillance
device that
shows the first camera being held in place by the first camera fastener.
[0018] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a door featuring a surveillance device that
captures images of
an interior area and an exterior area of a doorway.
[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a top-side view of a surveillance device.
[0020] FIG. 11 illustrates a surveillance device attached to a substantially
transparent door.
[0021] FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a door and a surveillance
device attached
thereto.
[0022] FIG. 13 illustrates a top side view of a surveillance device in an
initial closed position
and a second open position.
[0023] FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of a surveillance device that
may be mounted
on an opaque door to provide video surveillance of both the interior and
exterior areas of a door.
[0024] FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a surveillance device having a
housing with a
telescoping end.
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[0025] FIG. 16 illustrates a functional block diagram of a surveillance system
comprising a
surveillance device and an external storage device according to one
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 17 illustrates a functional block diagram of a surveillance device
according to
another embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method for capturing
surveillance
images of objects on a first side and/or second side of a doorway.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in
order to provide
a thorough understanding of the invention. However, one skilled in the art
would recognize that
the invention might be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well known
methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as
not to
unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.
[0029] Overview
[0030] In one embodiment, a surveillance device having a camera is provided
where the
surveillance device is configured to couple to one side of a door. The camera
is positioned to
record images and activity occurring at least on one side of the door,
including for example,
facial images of people approaching the side of the door onto which the device
is coupled.
Moreover, as the door opens and closes, the video camera is able to record a
wider, sweeping
angle of the interior and possibly exterior areas of the door in order to
maximize video
surveillance.
[0031] In another embodiment, a surveillance device having at least two video
cameras is
provided that is configured to couple to a door. One of the two cameras is
positioned on one side
of the surveillance device in order to record video images on one side of the
door while the other
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camera is positioned on an opposite side of the surveillance device to record
video images on the
other side of the door. As the door opens and closes, the two video cameras
are able to record a
wider, sweeping angle of the interior and exterior areas of the door in order
to maximize video
surveillance. The surveillance device may be mounted onto the door at a height
near the average
height of a human in order to maximize image capture of people's faces as they
enter or exit
through the door. In one embodiment, the surveillance device comprises one
housing that include
both cameras facing opposite directions and is configured to attach to a
substantially transparent
door. In another embodiment, the surveillance device comprises two cameras
that affix to
opposite sides of an opaque door so as to simultaneously record activity
taking place on both
sides of the door.
[0032] Components of Surveillance Device
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a surveillance device 10 attached
to a door 50.
In one embodiment the door 50 is substantially comprised of a transparent
material 52, such as
glass, plexi-glass, bullet resistant glass, or other durable transparent
material allowing visibility
from one side of the door to the other. The surveillance device 10 is
preferably situated at a
height "X" that is about face level with the height of an average adult
person, and is affixed to
the perimeter portions 54a, 54b of the door 50. For example, in one
embodiment, the height "X"
may be any height between four (4) feet six (6) inches and six (6) feet six
(6) inches. In one
embodiment, the door 50 may be a standard hinged door that pivots away from
the doorway in
only one direction. That is, the standard hinged door may open in only one
direction. In other
embodiments, the door 50 may be a "swing door" whose hinges allow it to pivot
away from the
doorway in two directions. Thus, a swing door may be pushed and pulled open by
a person
standing on either side of the door.
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[0034] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate front and rear perspective views of the
surveillance device 10.
In one embodiment, the surveillance device 10 comprises a housing (e.g., a
casing) 11, a first
camera 12 (e.g., first video camera), a second camera 14 (e.g., second video
camera), a front
surface 16, a rear surface 18, a top surface 20, a first camera fastener 22, a
second camera
fastener 24, a first end 26, a second end 28, a first end bracket 30, a second
end bracket 32, and a
cable 34.
[0035] The housing 11 may be composed of plastic, metal, or any other rigid
material. The
housing 11 serves to define a cavity within which various components of the
surveillance device
may be, at least partially, housed. For example, the first and second cameras
12, 14 may be
contained at least partially within the housing 1.1 of the surveillance device
10. In one
embodiment, the housing 11 may be comprised a of bullet resistant material
such as Kevlar .
[0036] The first end bracket 30 and the second end bracket 32 allow the
surveillance device
10 to be permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily affixed to the
perimeter portions 54a,
54b of the door 50, as shown in FIG. 1. The first end 26 of the surveillance
device 10 may be
affixed onto or near a first perimeter portion 54a of the door 50 via the
first end bracket 30. The
first perimeter portion 54a of the door 50 may be the edge of the door 50 that
attaches to the
doorway using hinges. The second end 28 of the surveillance device 10 may be
affixed onto or
near the second perimeter portion 54b of the door via the second end bracket
32. The second
perimeter portion 54b of the door 50 may be the edge of the door 50 that
swings open. Thus, the
surveillance device 10 and the housing 11 may be mounted onto the first side
of the door in a
horizontal orientation across the door.
[0037] In one embodiment, the first camera 12 and the second camera 14 may be
video
cameras, for example, digital video cameras that capture/record more than
sixteen digital images
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per second. In another embodiment, the first camera 12 and the second camera
14 may be digital
cameras. The digital cameras may capture digital images intermittently at a
fixed time interval
and/or based on a triggering event. For example, in one embodiment, the first
and second
cameras 12, 14 may be triggered to capture at least one image if a motion
sensor located in or
around the surveillance device 10 detects motion within an active region of
the motion sensor.
[0038] The first camera 12 may be found on the front surface 16 of the
surveillance device
10, and may be held in place by the first camera fastener 22 on the top
surface 20 of the
surveillance device 10. The second camera 14 may be found on the rear surface
18 of the
surveillance device 10, and may be held in place by the second camera fastener
24 on the top
surface 20 of the surveillance device 10. In other embodiments, the first and
second camera
fasteners 22, 24 may be located on the bottom surface of the surveillance
device 10. In yet other
embodiments, one or more camera fasteners may be used to secure the cameras
12, 14 from any
one of surfaces of the surveillance device 10.
[0039] The cable 34 may be coupled to the surveillance device 10 near the
first end 26 of the
surveillance device 10. For example, the cable 34 may be secured within the
cavity of the
housing 11 and be protected from intentional or unintentional damage as it
runs from the
cameras 12, 14 to a first edge of the door 50. The cable 34 may be comprised
of a power line that
provides power to the surveillance device 10, including power to the first
camera 12 and/or the
second camera 14. In one embodiment, the cable 34 also includes a
communications line that
provides a line of communication (e.g., receive and transmit signals) between
the cameras 12, 14
and an external storage device that serves to save and store the images
captured by the cameras
12, 14. The external storage device may be a unit such as a hard drive or
memory that is located
separate and apart from the surveillance device 10 and is configured to store
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video data. In other embodiments the cameras 12, 14 transmit the video images
they capture
wirelessly to the external storage device. In yet other embodiments, the cable
34 is not present.
Instead, the cameras 12, 14 may be battery operated and/or solar panel
operated, and transmit the
video images they capture wirelessly to the external storage device.
[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the first end 26 of the surveillance
device 10. The
housing 11 of the surveillance device 10 may have a thickness t and a height
h, and may have, at
least in part, a rectangular cross section. In other embodiments, the housing
11 may be
cylindrical in shape, or have a cross section, in part, of any number of sides
equal to or greater
than three.
[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of the front surface 16 of the surveillance
device 10. The
housing 11 of the surveillance device 10 may have length 1.
[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the top side of a portion
of the surveillance
device 10 that contains the first camera 12 and second camera 14. The first
and second cameras
12, 14 may be positioned adjacent to one another and face opposite directions
as shown in FIG.
6. By placing the cameras 12, 14 next to one another the thickness t of the
housing 11 of the
surveillance device 10 may be decreased. The first camera opening 17 allows
the first video
camera 12 to capture images/activity (e.g., record first video data) occurring
outside of the
housing 11 of the surveillance device 10. The second camera opening 23 allows
the second video
camera 14 to capture additional images/activity (e.g., record second video
data) occurring
outside of the housing 11 of the surveillance device 10.
[0043] In one embodiment, a protective covering 15, such as plexi-glass,
bullet-resistant
glass, plastic, or glass, lies between the lens 13 of the first camera 12 and
the first camera
opening 17 on the front surface 16 of the surveillance device 10. The
protective covering 15
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protects the lens 13 from intentional and unintentional harm, and the natural
elements. Similarly,
another protective covering 21 may lie in between the lens 19 of the second
camera 14 and the
second camera opening 23 on the rear surface 18 of the surveillance device 10
to protect the lens
19 of the second camera 14. The protective coverings 15, 21 may be, for
example, 1/8th of inch
thick plexi-glass material that is affixed to the inner wall of the
surveillance device 10 with an
adhesive. In other embodiments, the protective coverings 15, 21 may be absent
in which case the
lenses 13, 19 may sit flush against the first and second camera openings 17,
23. In some
embodiments, desiccants may be placed within the surveillance device 10 to
help control any
moisture that may accumulate within the surveillance device 10. In yet other
embodiments, the
cameras 12, 14 may be water-resistant and/or may be substantially covered in a
protective
sheathing, such as plastic, to protect from water damage.
[0044] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an end of the surveillance
device 10 that
shows the first camera 12 being held in place by the first camera fastener 22.
The surveillance
device 10 may feature the first camera opening 17 through which the first
camera 12 captures
video images. The protective covering 15 may help protect the lens 13 of the
first camera 12.
[0045] Operation of Surveillance Device
[0046] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a door 800 featuring a surveillance device 10
that captures
images of an interior area (e.g. first area) and an exterior area (e.g.,
second area) of a doorway
associated with the door 800. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9,
the door 800 may
be a "swing door" that can be opened and closed in two directions and provides
access through
the doorway. FIG. 8 illustrates the interior side 801 (e.g., first side) of
the door 800 that faces in
toward the interior of the room (e.g., toward the first area) and the interior
area of the doorway
when the door 800 is closed. FIG. 9 illustrates the exterior side 901 (e.g.,
second side) of the
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door 800 that faces out toward the exterior of the room (e.g., toward the
second area) and
exterior area of the doorway when the door is closed. The door 800 comprises a
door body
having an interior face 802 and an exterior face 902, a first interior
perimeter portion 804, a
second interior perimeter portion 806, a first exterior perimeter portion 904,
and a second
exterior perimeter portion 906. In one embodiment, the interior and exterior
faces 802, 902 of the
door's 800 body may be substantially transparent thereby allowing the exterior
area of doorway
to be visible from inside the room and the interior area of the doorway to be
visible from outside
the room.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 8, a surveillance device 10 is mounted onto the
interior side 801 of
the door 800, preferably at a height "X" that is about face level with the
height of an average
adult person. The surveillance device 10 is mounted to the first side 801 of
the door 800 such
that the first camera 12 is facing away from the first side 801 of the door
800, and the second
camera 14 is facing toward the first side 801 of the door 800. In one
embodiment, the first end 26
of the surveillance device 10 may be affixed onto or near the first interior
perimeter portion 804
of the door 50 via the first end bracket 30. The first interior perimeter
portion 804 of the door
800 may be near the edge of the door 800 that attaches to the doorway via
hinges. The second
end 28 of the surveillance device 10 may be affixed onto or near the second
interior perimeter
portion 806 of the door via the second end bracket 32. The second interior
perimeter portion 806
of the door 800 may be near the edge of the door 800 that swings open. In one
embodiment a
cable 34 couples to the surveillance device 10 and serves to power and provide
communications
between the surveillance device 10 and an external storage device. In other
embodiments the
cable 34 is absent. In that case the surveillance device 10 may be powered by
a replaceable
and/or rechargeable battery, and the surveillance device 10 transmits the
video images/data it
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captures to an external storage device via wireless communications. In other
embodiments, the
surveillance device 10 has an internal video storage device that stores video
images captured
onto memory stored within the surveillance device 10. The memory may be
located on a
removable device such as a thumb-drive having FLASH memory.
[0048] In one embodiment, the first camera 12 is configured to capture video
images on the
interior side 801 of the door 800. That is, the first camera 12 is configured
to capture video
images of an interior area/region in front of and at a distance from the
interior side 801 of the
door 800. Therefore, the first camera 12 is positioned to capture facial
images of people
approaching the door 800 from inside the room who, for example, wish to exit
the room. The
first camera may also be positioned to generally record video of activity
within the room, for
example, actions that are taking place at a cash register area within the
room.
[0049] FIG. 9 illustrates the exterior side (e.g., the second side) 901 of the
door 800. In one
embodiment, the second camera 14 is configured to capture video images on the
exterior side
901 of the door 800. That is, the second camera 14 is configured to capture
video images of an
exterior area/region in front of and at a distance from the exterior side 901
of the door 800. Since
the surveillance device 10 is mounted onto the interior side 801 of the door,
the surveillance
device 10 cannot be directly tampered with by anyone outside the room/doorway
because the
device 10 is located inside the room. However, since the interior and exterior
faces 802, 902 of
the door's 800 body are substantially transparent, the second camera 14 of the
surveillance
device 10 is able to record activity taking place on the exterior side 901 of
the door 800.
Therefore, the second camera 14 is positioned to capture facial images of
people approaching the
door 800 from outside the room who, for example, wish to enter the room.
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[0050] For example, as a person located inside the room approaches the first
side 801 of the
door 800, the first camera 12 may capture a full frontal shot of the person's
face. As the person
pushes or pulls the door 800 open, one or both of the first and second cameras
12, 14 begin to
capture various angles of the person's face, including profile images.
Moreover, once the person
has completely walked through the doorway and is traversing though the
exterior area of the
doorway, the second camera 14 is now in a position to capture images of the
back of the person's
head and body as the person walks away from the exterior side 901 of the door
800. Capturing
close-up facial images of people entering and exiting through the door 800 may
help assist law
enforcement personnel in tracking down suspected criminals, missing persons,
and other people
of interest.
[0051] Furthermore, the cameras 12, 14 are capable of capturing more than just
the facial
images of people entering and exiting through the door 800. While the cameras
12, 14 are
unobstructed by a person entering or exiting through the door 800, the cameras
12, 14 are
capable of capturing images of all activity within their viewing angles, even
at some
considerable distance. For example, the surveillance device 10 may be
implemented onto the
front door of a convenience store. One camera 12 that faces in toward the
store may be
positioned to capture video images of activity taking place inside the
convenience store. For
example, the camera 12 may record images of people exiting the store. The
camera 12 may also
monitor and record activity taking place at a cash register area of the
convenience store that is
some distance, for example 25 feet or more, away from the door 800. The second
camera 14
facing the other side of the entrance door 800 may simultaneously record
activity taking place
outside the convenience store. For example, the camera 14 may record images of
people entering
the store. The camera 14 may also monitor and record activity taking place in
the parking lot and
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exterior portion of the convenience store. In this fashion, the cameras 12, 14
act to record not
only the facial images of patrons walking into and out of the store, but also
work to capture
surveillance images of activity taking place (e.g., activity near the cashier
and/or parking lot) at a
significant distance from the door 800 to which the cameras 12, 14 are
attached.
[0052] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the surveillance device 10
is mounted
onto the interior side 801 of the door 800. However, in other embodiments, the
surveillance
device 10 may be mounted onto the exterior side 901 of the door 800. In that
case, the first end
26 of the surveillance device 10 may be affixed onto or near the first
exterior perimeter portion
904 of the door 800 via the first end bracket 30, and the second end 28 of the
surveillance device
may be affixed onto or near the second exterior perimeter portion 906 of the
door 800 via the
second end bracket 32.
[0053] FIG. 10 illustrates a top-side view of the surveillance device 10. The
angles al and a2
respectively represent the horizontal (i.e., in a direction parallel to the
length 1 of the surveillance
device 10) viewing angles that can be recorded by the first and second cameras
12, 14 when the
surveillance device 10 is in a stationary position (e.g., in a closed
position). The first camera 12
may be located a distance Z from the second end 28 of the surveillance device
10. The second
camera 14 may be located a distance Y from the second end 28 of the
surveillance device 10. In
the embodiments shown in at least FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, the first
and second cameras 12,
14 are located at slightly different distances from the second end 28 of the
surveillance device 10
so that the surveillance device 10 can have a thin profile. In other words,
the first and second
cameras may be located adjacent to one another along the length 1 of the
housing 11 of the
security device 10. In other embodiments, the cameras 12, 14 may be equally
spaced from the
second end 28, in which case the surveillance device 10 may be thicker (have a
larger thickness
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t) so as to accommodate the camera bodies of each of the first and second
cameras 12, 14 within
the housing 11 of the surveillance device 10.
[0054] FIG. 11 illustrates a surveillance device 10 attached to a
substantially transparent
door 1100.
[0055] FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the door 1100 and the
surveillance device
attached thereto shown in FIG. 11. The door 1100 may have an interior side
(e.g., first side)
1102 and an exterior side (e.g., second side) 1104, where a first area/region
within an interior of
a room is associated with the interior side 1102 and a second area/region
within an exterior of a
room is associated with the exterior side 1104 of the door 1100. The angles 71
and 72 respectively
represent the vertical (i.e., in a direction parallel to the height h of the
surveillance device 10)
viewing angles that can be recorded by the first and second cameras 12, 14
when the surveillance
device 10 is attached to the door 1100 at a height X from the ground. The
height X may be the
average height of a human in the locale (e.g., city, state, country, etc.) of
the door 1100, e.g., a
height between four feet six inches and six feet six inches.
[0056] FIG. 13 illustrates a top side view of the surveillance device 10 of
the door 1100
being moved (e.g., pushed or pulled by a person) from an initial CLOSED
position (dashed lines)
to an OPEN position (solid lines). The door 1100, to which the surveillance
device 10 is
attached, has been removed from the figure for clarity. FIG. 13 illustrates
the wider panoramic
viewing angles afforded by the surveillance device 10 as the door 1100 and the
attached
surveillance device 10 is swung between the CLOSED and OPEN position. In the
static,
CLOSED position, the first camera 12 records images within a viewing angle of
a1 and the
second camera 14 records images within a viewing angle of a2. As the door 50
swings to the
OPEN position, the first camera 12 is able to capture images having a total
viewing angle of 01
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which may be substantially greater than a1 alone. In some cases, the images
recorded by the first
camera within the viewing angle (31 may include images that are found on both
sides of the
doorway (i.e., images found in the first area and second area of the doorway).
[0057] Simultaneously, the second camera 14 is able to capture images within a
total viewing
angle of (32 which may be substantially greater than a2 alone. In some cases,
the images recorded
by the second camera within the viewing angle (32 may include images that are
found on both
sides of the doorway (i.e., images found in the first area and second area of
the doorway). This
allows a viewing angle of more than 180 degrees to be recorded between the two
cameras 12, 14
if, for example, the door is swung open on one direction, for example, toward
the exterior or
interior area of the doorway. If the door is a "swing door," then an even
greater viewing angle
may recorded by swinging the door open in both directions. In one embodiment,
the first and
second cameras may record a combined horizontal viewing angle of more than 300
degrees when
the surveillance device 10 is used with a swing door. For example, in the
event the swing door is
swung open toward the exterior area of the doorway and then pulled back
through the doorway
into an interior area of the doorway.
[0058] In some cases, the first and second cameras 12, 14 may be able to
record activity
within a wide viewing angle even if the door is not a swing door. For example,
the first and
second cameras 12, 14 may each have a viewing angle in the horizontal
direction of 160 degrees
because they utilize, for example, a "fish eye" lens. In such embodiments, the
two cameras 12,
14 together may record images on both sides of the door within a viewing angle
of more than
300 degrees.
[0059] FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of a surveillance device 1400
that may be
mounted on an opaque door 1450 to provide video surveillance of both the
interior and exterior
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areas of the door 1450. For example, a first camera 1412 may be mounted on the
interior side
1452 of the door 1450 and positioned at a height X to capture video images of
the interior area of
the door 1450. The first camera 1412 may be contained, at least partially,
within a first cavity
defined by a first casing (e.g., first housing). The height X may be the
average height of a human
in the locale (e.g., city, state, country, etc.) of the door 1450. The door
1450 may be a standard
wooden door used as a front door to a house. Thus, the first camera 1412 is
positioned to capture
images, such as full frontal shots of a person's face, inside the house near
the interior area of the
door 1450.
[0060] A second camera 1414 may be mounted on the exterior side of the door
1450 to
capture video images of the exterior area of the door 1450 (e.g., outside the
house). The second
camera 1414 may be contained, at least partially, within a second cavity
defined by a second
casing (e.g., second housing). The second camera 1414 may also be positioned
at a height X to
capture full frontal facial video images of persons standing outside the door
1450. The second
camera may be connected to the first camera 1412 via a connecting
communications line 1416.
The connecting communications line 1416 transmits images captured by the
second camera 1414
to the surveillance device 1400. The connecting communications line 1416 may
also power the
second camera 1414. The connecting communications line 1416 may be comprised
of a thin, flat
insulating fabric containing conducting wires, such as surface mountable
wiring. The connecting
communications line 1416 may be flat and thin so that the door 1450 may close
within the
doorjab without significant obstruction by the connecting communications line
1416.
[0061] In one embodiment a main communications line 1402 couples to the
surveillance
device 1400 and serves to power and provide communications between the
surveillance device
1400 and an external storage device. In other embodiments the cable 1402 is
absent. In that case
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the surveillance device 1400 may be powered by a replaceable and/or
rechargeable battery, and
the surveillance device 1400 transmits the video images/data it captures to an
external storage
device via wireless communications. In other embodiments, the surveillance
device 1400 has an
internal video storage device that stores video images captured onto memory
stored within the
surveillance device 1400. The memory may be located on a removable device such
as a thumb-
drive having FLASH memory.
[0062] FIG. 15 illustrates one embodiment of a surveillance device 1500
featuring a housing
1502 with a telescoping end 1504. The telescoping end 1504 allows the length 1
of the
surveillance devices 10, 1500 to be lengthened or shortened in order to
accommodate the width
of a door 50 to which the surveillance devices 10, 1500 may attach to via the
end bracket 1506.
For example, the second end 28 of the surveillance device 10 shown in FIG. 8
may be a
telescoping end 1504 that can extend out toward and attach to the second
interior perimeter
portion 806 of the door 800 via the second bracket 32. In this fashion, the
telescoping end 1504
allows the surveillance devices 10, 1500 to accommodate a door 800 of various
widths.
[0063] FIG. 16 illustrates a functional block diagram of a surveillance system
1600
comprising a surveillance device 1610 and an external storage device 1640
according to one
embodiment. The surveillance device 1610 may comprise a processing circuit
1612 (e.g.,
processor, computer, microprocessor, graphics processor, etc.), a
communications interface
1614, a first video camera (e.g., first camera) 1616, a second video camera
(e.g., second camera)
1618, an input/output (1/0) interface 1620, and a memory circuit (memory,
etc.) 1622. The
processing circuit 1612 may be communicatively coupled to the communications
interface 1614,
the first video camera 1616, the second video camera 1618, the input/output
(1/0) interface 1620,
and/or the memory circuit 1622. Generally, the processing circuit 1612 is
responsible for
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processing data, such as, transmitting and receiving instructions to the
various components of the
surveillance device 1610. For example, the processing circuit 1612 may
transmit instructions to
the first and second cameras 1616, 1618 to start and stop acquiring video
data. The processing
circuit 1612 may also receive video data acquired by the first and/or second
cameras 1616, 1618
and transmit such data to the communications interface 1614. The 1/0 interface
1620 may
comprise an ON/OFF switch (e.g., an infrared input that receives ON/OFF
signals) that is
responsible for powering on the surveillance device 1610 and sending commands
to the
processing circuit 1612 to begin video recording operations. The memory
circuit 1622 is
responsible for storing data and can assist the processing circuit 1612 by
storing data, such as
instructions, in volatile (DRAM, SRAM, etc.) and/or non-volatile memory (e.g.,
FLASH
memory).
[0064] The communications interface 1614 may be responsible for transmitting
video data
acquired from the first and/or second cameras 1616, 1618 to the external
storage device 1640.
The communications interface 1614 may also be responsible for receiving power
to operate the
surveillance device 1610. In one embodiment the communications interface 1614
provides a
wireline connection from the surveillance device 1610 to the external storage
device 1640. In
another embodiment, the communications interface 1614 provides a wireless
communications
interface/connection to the external storage device 1640. In this fashion, the
surveillance device
1610 can wireless transmit video data to the external storage device 1640.
[0065] The external storage device 1640 comprises a processing circuit 1642,
one or more
memory circuits 1644, and a communications interface 1646. The external
storage device 1640
receives video data acquired by the surveillance device 1610 and stores the
video data in its
memory circuits 1644. For example, the surveillance device 1610 may receive
the video data via
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its communications interface 1646. The communications interface 1646 and
transmit the data to
its processing circuit 1642 which in turn instructs the memory circuits 1644
to store the video
data. The memory circuits may be for example a hard disk drive, a solid state
drive, volatile
memory, and/or non-volatile memory such as FLASH memory.
[0066] FIG. 17 illustrates a functional block diagram of a surveillance device
1700 according
to another embodiment. The surveillance device 1700 may comprise a processing
circuit 1702
(e.g., processor, computer, microprocessor, graphics processor, etc.), a
communications interface
1704, a memory circuit (e.g., memory, etc.) 1706, a first video camera (e.g.,
first camera) 1708, a
second video camera (e.g., second camera) 1710, an input/output (I/O)
interface 1712, and a
video data storage apparatus 1714.
[0067] The processing circuit 1702 may be communicatively coupled to the
communications
interface 1704, the memory circuit 1706, the first video camera 1708, the
second video camera
1710, the 1/0 interface 1712, and/or the video data storage apparatus 1714.
Generally, the
processing circuit 1702 is responsible for processing data, such as,
transmitting and receiving
instructions to the various components of the surveillance device 1700. For
example, the
processing circuit 1702 may transmit instructions to the first and second
cameras 1708, 1710 to
start and stop acquiring video data. The processing circuit 1702 may also
receive video data
acquired by the first and/or second cameras 1708, 1710 and transmit such data
to the video data
storage apparatus 1714 for storage. The 1/0 interface 1712 may comprise an
ON/OFF switch
(e.g., an infrared input that receives ON/OFF signals) that is responsible for
powering on the
surveillance device 1700 and sending commands to the processing circuit 1702
to begin video
recording operations. The memory circuit 1706 is responsible for storing data
and can assist the
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processing circuit 1702 by storing data, such as instructions, in volatile
(DRAM, SRAM, etc.)
and/or non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory).
[0068] The video data storage apparatus 1714 comprises one or more storage
elements
configured to store video data. For example, the video data storage apparatus
1714 may comprise
a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, volatile memory, and/or non-volatile
memory such as
FLASH memory. In one embodiment, the video data storage apparatus 1714
includes banks of
FLASH memory configured to store large amounts of video data. The video data
storage
apparatus 1714 may be removably coupled to the rest of the surveillance device
1700, for
example, through a USB, 1394, Thunderbolt , or any other communications
connection
protocol. If the video data storage apparatus 1714 is removably coupled to the
surveillance
device 1700, then a user can conveniently remove the video data storage
apparatus 1714
containing relevant video data and copy it to another device such as a
computer for analysis or
video reproduction.
[0069] FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method 1800 for
capturing
surveillance images of objects (e.g., facial images of people) on a first side
and/or second side of
a doorway. For example, the method may include mounting a housing onto a first
side of a door
where the housing may define a cavity that secures and contains, at least
partially, a first camera
1802. The method may further include capturing images on the first side of the
door via the first
camera when the door is in a stationary position and when the door is swung
1804. Next, the
method may include positioning a second camera adjacent to the first camera
along a length of
the housing, where the second camera faces a substantially opposite direction
relative to the first
camera 1806. The cavity of the housing may further secure and contain the
second camera.
Furthermore, the method may include capturing images on a second side of the
door via the
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second camera when the door is in a stationary position and when the door is
swung, where the
second side of the door is an opposite side of the first side of the door
1808.
[0070] In one embodiment, the step 1802 of mounting the housing onto the first
side of the
door may comprise mounting a first end of the housing to a first perimeter
portion of the door via
a first bracket, and mounting a second end of the housing to a second
perimeter portion of the
door via a second bracket. The second end of the housing may be defined as an
opposite end of
the first end. Also, mounting the first end to the first perimeter portion of
the door and mounting
the second end to the second perimeter portion of the door may align the
housing in a
substantially horizontal direction across the door (e.g., see the surveillance
device 10 in FIG. 1).
[0071] In yet other embodiments, the first and second cameras may be linked to
a facial
image recognition system to allow select personnel access to a restricted
area. In yet other
embodiments, the surveillance device may feature more than two cameras.
Moreover,
embodiments of the surveillance device are not limited to just video cameras.
Rather, the
surveillance device may feature infrared cameras that detect heat, and/or
other recording devices
that capture light outside of the visible spectrum (approximately 390nm to
750nm). In other
embodiments, cameras may be implemented within the surveillance device that
capture still
images. In alternative embodiments, the first and second video cameras within
any of the
surveillance devices disclosed herein may feature a "fisheye" lens so that a
wider viewing angle
is captured/recorded. Thus, the angles a and R illustrated in FIGS. 10, 12,
and 13 may be even
larger. In yet other embodiments, the surveillance device 10 may be equipped
with one or more
motion sensors found on any one of the surfaces of the housing 11. The motion
sensors may
trigger the first camera 12 and/or second camera 14 to capture an image if,
for example, an
object enters within range of the motion sensor and/or the door is swung in
any direction.
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[0072] A surveillance device may be customized to feature any one of the
aforementioned
style of cameras, and/or number of cameras on the surveillance device. For
example, a website
may allow a user to customize an order for a surveillance device that features
infrared and
regular video cameras on each side of the device. The website may further
allow the user to
customize the length, width, depth, and other physical attributes of the
surveillance device.
Another feature that may be customized for a given order is the layout of the
surveillance device
depending on whether the door on which the surveillance device is to be
installed on has hinges
on the left side or the right side, and/or whether the door is a standard
hinged door or whether it's
a "swing door."
[0073] The surveillance devices disclosed herein provide at least the
following features.
First, a panoramic viewing angle of the exterior and/or interior of a doorway
may be recorded,
instead of a limited viewing angle that focuses just outside or inside of a
doorway. This may
allow, for example, the parking lot or other area external to and some
distance away from the
doorway to be recorded. Second, since the surveillance devices may be mounted
at a height
approximately equal to the face of a person, accurate facial images may be
acquired. Such
detailed images may help law enforcement apprehend a suspect or locate a
person of interest.
Third, the surveillance devices can be manufactured so that they are compact,
lightweight and
easy to install. Conventional security cameras mounted to walls may require
costly installation
procedures and damage to such structures. Fourth, by placing the cameras
within the surveillance
device, the cameras are relatively inconspicuously hidden so as not to be
offensive to ordinary
individuals/customers entering or leaving through a doorway.
[0074] One or more of the components, steps, features and/or functions
illustrated in FIGS.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and/or 18 may be
rearranged and/or
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combined into a single component, step, feature or function or embodied in
several components,
steps, or functions. Additional elements, components, steps, and/or functions
may also be added
without departing from the invention. The apparatus, devices, and/or
components illustrated in
FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, and/or 18 may be configured to
perform one or more of
the methods, features, or steps described in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and/or
18. The algorithms
described herein may also be efficiently implemented in software and/or
embedded in hardware.
[0075] Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process
that is depicted
as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram.
Although a flowchart
may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations
can be performed in
parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-
arranged. A process is
terminated when its operations are completed. A process may correspond to a
method, a
function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process
corresponds to a
function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the
calling function or the
main function.
[0076] Moreover, a storage medium may represent one or more devices for
storing data,
including read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk
storage
mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other machine -
readable
mediums and, processor -readable mediums, and/or computer-readable mediums for
storing
information. The terms "machine-readable medium", "computer-readable medium",
and/or
"processor-readable medium" may include non-transitory mediums such as
portable or fixed
storage devices, optical storage devices, and various other mediums capable of
storing,
containing or carrying instruction(s) and/or data. Thus, the various methods
described herein
may be fully or partially implemented by instructions and/or data that may be
stored in a
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"machine-readable medium", "computer-readable medium", and/or "processor-
readable
medium" and executed by one or more processors, machines and/or devices.
[0077] Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software,
firmware,
middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. When implemented in
software, firmware,
middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the
necessary tasks
may be stored in a machine-readable medium such as a storage medium or other
storage(s). A
processor may perform the necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a
procedure, a
function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a
software package, a
class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program
statements. A code segment
may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or
receiving
information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information,
arguments,
parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any
suitable means including
memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.
[0078] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, elements,
and/or
components described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be
implemented or
performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP),
an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or
other
programmable logic component, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete
hardware components,
or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.
A general
purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the
processor may be any
conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A
processor may also be
implemented as a combination of computing components, e.g., a combination of a
DSP and a
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microprocessor, a number of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in
conjunction with
a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0079] The methods or algorithms described in connection with the examples
disclosed
herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executable
by a processor, or
in a combination of both, in the form of processing unit, programming
instructions, or other
directions, and may be contained in a single device or distributed across
multiple devices. A
software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM
memory,
EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other
form of
storage medium known in the art. A storage medium may be coupled to the
processor such that
the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage
medium. In the
alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.
[0080] Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the various
illustrative logical
blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with
the embodiments
disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software,
or
combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of
hardware and software,
various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have
been described above
generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is
implemented as hardware
or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints
imposed on the
overall system.
[0081] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in
the
accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely
illustrative of
and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be
limited to the specific
constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other
modifications are
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possible. Those skilled, in the art will appreciate that various adaptations
and modifications of
the just described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing
from the scope and
spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the
scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described
herein.
29
